TOPIC: RMAs and Gift Certificates

I recently sent in an RMA and received a gift certificate to cover shipping of returned parts. Within that shipment, I received another incorrect part and sent customer service an email to resend the correct part. Will I receive another GC to cover the shipping of the part that I'll eventually need to return (a switch)? (I live in Australia btw).

To those of you who've done multiple RMAs on a single order, and have sent and resent the same item, did you receive multiple GCs as a result? And if you don't mind, what amounts did you receive vs the actual item/shipping? By single order I mean an individual saber.

I've had multiple RMA's sent in. In fact i've had some sort of problem with every single order i've ever had from saberforge. I'm not trying to start a hate thread...its just the truth. That said...I am still a saberforge customer. So...moving on-

The gift certificate thing is new to me. I've never had that in any of my dealings. The first few times I had to send sabers/parts back, they didn't mention any type of compensation for shipping it back, they would just tell me to mail it back. In those circumstances, I would pay to ship the part back to them and then they would pay to ship it back to me when it was repaired.

Recently I have had multiple problems with the soundboards from the ASP system. My first board was a crimson and it is now back in the hands of saberforge for the third time needing a replacement for overheating the LED. On top of that, I received a brand new veridium board in the mail yesterday. Guess what? Exact same overheating problem. So it will be going back as well. The difference here is that starting with these soundboard returns...Saberforge has sent me a prepaid priority mail stamp that I can print out. So essentially, they have paid for shipping both ways for the past 3 or 4 returns i've had to make.

Maybe they've started doing this simply because I've had so many problems yet I've always remained completely respectful and professional. I've never once sent in an angry email even after having every single order come with at least one minor or major problem. Or maybe it simply depends on which customer service person you get to talk to and how they personally deal with returns. Most of my RMA requests have been dealt with by "melissa" and a few by "India".

But the gift certificate thing is definitely new to me. I think it seems kind of unnecessarily complex when they seem to be able to simply email you the priority mail label to print out and use to mail your RMA back.

Oops, I just reread your post and noticed you are from Australia. I bet that is the reason they can't just send a print out mailing label...because its international.

Gnost-Dural wrote: Sydney Australia here. Difficult to answer as SFCS typically handle matters on a case/case situation rather than having an action of precedence. It will also come down to whether they require you to send back the incorrect supplied Part too. Similar to above response. Sometimes the interpretation comes down to the discretion of the CSR handling your matter. GC's offered can be a gesture extended and can vary between a Gift Card (GC1) or a Gift Certificate (GC2).

The difference (as explained to me), GC1 is exclusive credit limited to a specific Outlet (usually shopsaberparts). This is emailed to you and includes a unique single-use code to enter prior to Checkout. GC2 is a non-exclusive credit available for redemption (across all SF Outlets i.e lazerforge, Main Site, shopsaberparts etc) and is a physical Voucher that is (snail)mailed to you. Redemption of this (in the past, required an email sent to SFCS providing photo evidence of and the Order # it originated from and the new Order # it applies to) and similarly either you proceed with the Purchase in it's entirety and later get refunded or a unique single-use Coupon code (like GC1) is used prior to checkout. Am still awaiting clarification on this process with definition of Order first or email first.

The Values again differ and there's no format or precedence as to what these are hence the interpretation 'at their discretion'. If you are in possession of multiple forms of credit (regardless of GC1 or GC2 or a combination of both) redemption can only occur once per transaction i.e. say you have 2 GC1s, your Order placed will only recognise use of 1 at checkout and not enable entry of both. The only way to redeem both is over 2 separate Orders (which also equals 2 separate Shipping Fees).

Have also been advised that if a GC2 is issued surrounding a specific Order it is a once only occurrence. i.e. say you've been offered a GC2 from your 1st RMA return (to AU), a 2nd GC2 cannot be applied to the same reference Order, hence unlikely another GC2 will be offered. This doesn't mean it can't happen for you or instead of another GC2, it may be a GC1 as well. This is a guess. Only SFCS can answer this with any accuracy specific to your case.

Do remember that due to the case/case handling there will be differences.
Through a closed discussion, lets call them Nonny Mouse, and I had differences: one was greater, one was lesser. It will come down to what you accept specific to you without comparative reference, make peace and move on with.

There are some inconsistencies however this is what I have experienced (specific to my FFS Orders, Reviewed and UnReviewed and CR Guardian) and the results will likely vary for you also.

Yeah the above poster has it right- It really is a case by case basis and depends on who you are dealing with. As I said above, I have had quite different results from my various RMA requests.